H-1B CAP REACHED AT 233,000

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has just announced that it has received nearly 233,000 H-1B petitions during the April 1-7 filing period.  This figure includes both regular H-1B cap-subject petitions and H-1B petitions filed for the advanced degree exemption.  This is the largest number of H-1B cap-subject petitions ever received.  About 36% of the H-1Bs will be accepted and 64% will be returned. 

Earlier today, USCIS used a computer-generated random selection process, or “H-1B lottery,” to select enough petitions to meet the 65,000 general-category cap and the 20,000 cap under the advanced degree exemption. USCIS will reject and return all unselected petitions with their filing fees, unless the petition is found to be a duplicate filing. 

It is expected that it will take until mid-May before the H-1B lottery winners and losers are notified.  USCIS will begin premium processing for H-1B cap cases no later than May 11, 2015.